December 31, 1969 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Saturday July 23rd - 2011 - PM Fledge watch report:
For the most parts this afternoon, the fledge watch was uneventful and a very quiet evening with the exception of the rain and Courtney’s single flight around 6:45pm.
Around 6:46pm, young Courtney took her second flight of the day. She again bolted from the Library Courthouse roof where she had earlier flown to, and immediately lost altitude almost coming to the ground. Amazingly, she was able to get some air and gained some altitude as hooked around to the south further away from our view.
Out of nowhere, Truss, - (mon) appeared in our view and was in hot pursuit of baby Courtney. In a few seconds, Truss has intercepted Courtney and managed to literally herd her around in the air and turned her back northbound. While Courtney struggled to hold her altitude, a few gusts of air made all the difference in the world. Courtney caught a break, as the quick moving air allowed her to gain some incredible altitude and she was able to make a decent landing back on the courthouse building,, - two thirds up - on one of the courthouse’s upper south elevations.
There she stayed on the ledge until dark.
Heavy dark clouds rolled in and for the most parts, and they stayed for the balance of the afternoon and evening. We got several good soakings of rain that has us running to the cars to cover. The rain although was most welcomed, as it cooled down the air temps and the hot pavement that surrounded us. The rains cooling effects was incredibly welcomed!!
It was quite obvious that the peregrines were equally as delighted with the rain, (well,,, at least Courtney and Milton), as they were both observed running around on their perspective ledges flapping in the rain in quite an animated fashion.
Courtney was especially animated through the first two periods of rain, (unlike the her behaviour a day ago when she was far less amused by getting wet in the short little spits of rain that we had received). This time, she was observed with wings open, bobbing up and down trying to dip herself in some water puddles that has obviously collected on her ledge.
I was equally as surprised to see Milton’s behaviour during the rain, as he was the most animated of all. We don’t often see “wild” adults acting like kids playing in the water! He flapped both wings while simultaneously running around in short circles bobbing up and down during the first two short downpours. He was absolutely hilarious! If I’m to understand it correctly, this is the very first rain that we have received in a month, and with this unbearable heat and humidity over the past week, its been oppressively hot in the streets on the fledge watches!
We didn’t see Truss during this period so we don’t know what she was doing at this point.
By the end of the day, Truss fed Courtney at least three times (if not four times) throughout the day. It is worth noting that while we have all seen Milton do some hunting and food caching, Truss seems to be doing the most all of the hunting these days! Her preferences seems to be pigeons, as we are constantly seeing her struggling in the air with huge pigeon kills as she returns to the Courthouse. This is not surprising, as Truss was produced at the Burlington Lift bridge nest site, where her mother dined (and fed Courtney and her other siblings as a young hatchlings) almost exclusively with pigeons. The Burlington lift bridge, in addition to the Skyway bridge has thousands of pigeons, and we have watched the adult peregrines at the bridge over the years “shopping” for pigeons amongst the steel girders of the two bridges.
At one point, we observed the adult peregrines actually hovering outside of the large hole openings of the bridges steel girder undercarriage, (going from hole to hole like shopping down the ails in a supermarket), then diving into the holes, reappearing with young pigeon squabs. In addition, we have long observed both adults working/ hunting in the steel undercarriages of both of the bridges rousting out the pigeons.
Truss has learned this from her mother at the Burlington nest site, and obviously teaching some of these same things to Courtney. It looks like “pigeon” will remain a big part of Courtney’s diet, and something that she will likely teach her own hatchlings should she survive to adulthood and raise her own family.
Saturday July 23rd - 2011 AM Fledge Watch report
0515-Arrived @ Courthouse, all quiet.
0530- Heard Courtney vocalizing, and found her @ North end of Nest, she was also attended by an Adult (Female??) On the top roof.
0545- Mom in w/food, Courtney grabbed it, Mom made a low stoop about the height of Building to East of Courthouse (ServiceOntario).
0600-Courtney finished food and back up on Southeast Corner of Middle Ledge.
0615- Courtney off to try for exact same ledge as yesterday with exactly the same results. The only difference was that she was around 60′ East and with the added angle she did a gentle carom off the Marble and today she landed on the top roof instead of the one she landed on yesterday.
0630-Mom chases a pigeon and either tags it or it hit the East side of the Courthouse and followed it down to a lower level roof. She has been back there a second time & I haven’t seen her remove it, so I would call it a stash. Tivo arrived and I heard some more detail of Courtney’s escapades last evening.
0645-Mom up South East Corner of Middle Ledge, ( Vocalizations loosely Translated “Aw not Again, were did she go”. She then grabbed the remainder of the pigeon Courtney had for Breakfast and took it down to Her. After feeding for 5-10 minutes Courtney lay down flat for a nap, The two feedings must of made her “very sleepy”. I don’t know what Dad’s excuse was but even he was napping on & off.
0745- Things pretty static, all 3 falcons visible on East side of Courthouse. Dad occasionally stooping to clear pigeons around East Entrance or flying over Courtney to keep her alert.
0805-Mom finally chased Dad, she seems fairly adamant that “It’s no excuse to not have the “Honey Do” list continued on with even though it’s Saturday and he just wants to “chill” and work on his Tan.
0845-Courtney back eating some left over Pigeon.
0900-Courtney active, finally flew Down to Lower Roof (same place she spent most of yesterday). She looked like she was getting a good dose of sun, so she was looking for shade. Mom & Dad still in same positions.
1050- Courtney in same position, Mom finally picked up pigeon and transported w/some difficulty to Northwest Corner, ate some and the flew back to East side of Courthouse. She flew saw the Male resting and flew up and screamed @ him. Reading his beak I would say the reply was “Whatever” flew 50′ or so and when she disappeared he flew back & went to sleep.
1055- Just saw the funniest ever, 2 pigeons flew into land on the metal Flashing in the area where I suspect Courtney is. What I saw brought a new meaning to the Term “Touch & Go”. They no sooner touched that Flashing then they did the quickest 180 degree Turn I’ve ever seen.
1115- Dad got busted, Mom rousted the Two pigeons mentioned above and then busted Dad for resting.
1130- Dad moved around to Northeast Corner of Courthouse.
1200- Dad back, Mom in same place, no sign of Courtney.
1230- Dad only one visible, did a walk about, no sign of Mom or Courtney.
1300- Brief glimpse of Courtney up & flapping, 1st Time since 0900 (4 Hrs).
1400- Courtney up again. Mom very vocal.
1445- Things settling down. Courtney back out of sight.
1500- Mom agitated, at one point she chased off the pigeons near Courtney and in doing so passed by me @ head height no more than 6-8 feet away and I would guesstimate around 100 Mph.
1600-Courtney appears on Ramp that leads from rooftop above toward courthouse entrance. Very interesting watching a juvenile navigate an angled surface, she almost slipped off when turning.
1615-Mom made one attempt to lure Courtney off with Food, with no luck
1645-Evening Watch crew in, filled them in with Day’s happenings and headed home.
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Posted on July 23, 2011 11:48 pm
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - Afernoon and evening fledge watch report:
Despite the neat and humidity and the short cooling affects of the rain, Courtney was not too pleased at all about getting wet and she spent a lot of time on the Library roof of the courthouse aggressively trying to shake off the rain.
By 5pm, she did one last big roust -(big shake) and it would be her downfall - literally! As she puffed up and rousted, she lost her balance and tumbled off the leading edge of the roof. Before she realized what had happened, she was airborne!!
With a gusty west wind at her back, she was blown south east, and struggled to hold her altitude, and flew south east over the parking lot gaining a little altitude with the tail winds behind her. She ended up landing on a roof top in the very place that Winston (one of the fledge watchers) actually works.
For the next several hours, Courtney spent her time on the roof top meeting some of the other - not so nice local avian inhabitants! I can tell you that she gained some very important and valuable life skills and lessons during her brief visit!
First she was attacked by the resident adult Kestrels, who mercilessly dived bombed and stooped her on several different sorties.
Then there was the small roving horde of gulls that took several runs at her while she was on the roof.
Throughout this same time period, both of her parents watched from a far with only a casual interest of the ongoing events from their roosting spots on the Courthouse, and didn’t seem to shed much concern at all much to the dismay of Courtney.
Poor little Courtney was although very not very happy about this situation, and was observed on several occasion frantically running around the rooftop to avoid her new “not so nice less accommodating feathered neighbours”.
Around 6ish in the PM, we were most surprised and delighted to have Bill and Sue show up from Burlington to join us in the fledge watch thank goodness they stayed into the darkness to close of the watch for the day.
Shortly after Bill and Sue arrived, Truss, (the resident adult female) flew in with a huge white pigeon, landing on one of the courthouse upper ledges, and proceeded to pluck and prepare it. Over the next 20 minutes, the courthouse courtyard sky above the main entrance was filled with hundreds of white feathers. It looked like a mini snow storm as the feathers filled the air and floated down to the sidewalk.
Eventually, Truss made three to four overhead flights and several “touch and go’s” with food in hand out to Courtney’s position on the rooftop, each time flying back to the courthouse roof in an effort to encourage Courtney to take flight and return back to the courthouse. While Courtney was certainly motivated (and hungry), she spent most of the time running around chasing mom on the rooftop, screaming at the top of lungs. Truss finally gave up and returned to roost on the courthouse ledges with the food package in hand.
Shortly after these events, a far more intimidating and dangerous avian neighbours showed up to harass poor little Courtney! A small family of crows took a serious run at Courtney on the roof. In seconds during this event, we observed one of Courtney’s parents (believed to be Truss), was suddenly in the mix as Courtney was forced into flight by the crow attacks. The crows were quickly dispatched by the adult peregrine, (very quickly indeed), and Courtney was escorted in the air by one of her parents,,, almost corralled, as she flapped frantically while struggling to hold her altitude.
Both Courtney and parent flew back north west around and finally over the courthouse parking lot, where Courtney ended up making a terrible (but never the less successful) landing back on the courthouse library rooftop. While she did try and make it to the upper elevation just above the rooftop where she fell off earlier, she once again she came up short in her height and approach - (as she simply ran out of breath and energy), and hit the face of the wall and dropped down on the lower roof elevation like a bomb that had just been dropped out of an air-plane. Moments later, she emerged from the centre of the roof top looking no worse for ware. Another learning experience!
Again, Truss made several airborne fly-overs and quick touch-and-go’s with food in hand in an attempt to coax and tease Courtney back into the air to gain more altitude and a higher ledge elevation, but is was simply not to be. Finally, Truss finally give in, and eventually landed on Courtney’s roof top location and gave her s small bit of the white pigeon that she had been flying around with for all of this teasing and coaxing.
By 8:30pm, and with heavy overcast and darkening skies, we believed that all of the excitement was finished for the day. Both adults had moved to their evening roosts, and Courtney seemed to settle in for the night. Light was fading, and darkness was settling in.
Well, a quiet relaxing evening to end the days fledge watch was not to be!!
At 8:45pm, Truss make one last fly over Courtney and she flew around the south end of the courthouse library roof and disappeared from our view around the west side. Suddenly, without any indication, Courtney bolted into the air from her roof top position and flew around the south end of the courthouse out of our view - in the same direction that her mom had moments ago flown,, BUT with no where near the same altitude or speed!
We toooo bolted, running across the court parking lot to the south and them around to the west out to Hwy #10 / Hurontario street where she had hooked around to.
After several minutes searching the upper west site courthouse roof and ledge elevations, (we did find Truss roosting on an upper ledge elevation on the west site of the courthouse overlooking Hurontario St),,, Courtney was no where to be found.
A mad panic scan of the trees, lawn area and the bushes on the west side of the entire courthouse property was completed with no indication of Courtney.
Finally, in desperation, we then focused out attention and scanned the west side property and parking lots of Hurontario Street, and low and behold, Courtney was located standing on the roof top of an unmarked Peel police car in the darkened parking lot of the police station.
We all rushed into action, Bill and Sue back to the courthouse to get the rescue carrier, one to get a rescue towel, two into th police station to alert the police what we were planning to do, and one to alert George - (courthouse security).
Now all assembled in the darkened police parking lot, we were able to distract Courtney long enough to allow one of us to slip in being her and get a jacket over top of her and capture her up from the roof top of the police car. Successes, she’s in the bag as we say, safe and sound!!
Ater her rescue, Courtney was taken into the Peel police station to briefly show her to the desk staff who had assisted us out in their parking lot with the rescue, and then back to the courthouse where she was examined for injuries and later released back to the upper east ledge on the Brampton courthouse - (the same elevation where we had released her three days ago when she was rescued from the ground).
A huge thank you to all involved, as without everyone’s help, this evenings events could have ended up with quite a different outcome, one that may not have worked out so well!!
Attached photos taken by Winston who was on the watch with us during the earlier events when Courtney was beiing “entertained” by the other avian neighbours.
Stay tuned………….
Posted on July 23, 2011 2:29 pm
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 afternoon and evening report.
Bruce reports:
0545 Hrs- Arrived on site, Both Male & female in attendance. Courtney popped up a few minutes later.
0615- Female disappears, but male still in attendance. Went to Coffee shop for some water and saw Female on Northwest Antenna of Court House.
0645- Saw both Male & Female do some “Flight Invitations” by crisscrossing over Courtney. Also met Tovio, and caught up on some of the happenings around the site since I had done the initial Observations & ID’s. At this time also saw Dad & a juvie American Kestrel (AK) in a Half Hearted Air Battle. Dad really wasn’t into it and broke it off around the Service Ontario Building.
0730- Observed 1st Feeding by Female, (Small Package).
0745- Male & Female with an In Air Transfer of a Food Package
0815- Female into ledge w/Courtney, pretty sure left Food Package.
0830- Took a quick break, both adults absent. Courtney out of sight.
0900- Contacted by an Inside Watcher-she confirmed Where Cortney was.
0915- Courtney woke up, was a little farther to the East than I had thought. She made her way to West end of ledge.
0920- Courtney attempted to fly ti SouthEast Corner @ the same level. She just about made it, however she didn’t manage to get her second foot on and llost her balance, and slid face first 40 or so feet down the Wall. After heading South and not seeing I headed East towards a little Hillock just East of the East Building. About halfway there I saw her (Typical Female, looking at herself in the mirrored glass) @ about the same time one of the Office watchers came down & pointed out where she was.
0940- Courtney came out to East end briefly but then headed back into the shade.
1100- Noticed Male had returned to his position on lower roof ledge South of the Courthouse entrance. Looks over & can’t find Courtney @ original preflight ledge. Am pretty sure won’t see Courtney if she Is tucked up in corner in the shade.
1115- Female flys in & joins Male, both vocalize & male flys to original ledge. Some Vocalization, and am pretty sure Male would be able to see Courtney. He flew directly over where I think she is and headed South coming back about 10 minutes later to the SouthWest corner. Female stayed on above Roof.
1400- Situation pretty much the same until this time when AK came in after the Female & spent about 10-15 min Dive Bombing her silly.
1630-Situation pretty much the same until this time, except when Courtney had a couple of Friends (Pigeons) drop down to her level to visit her and the pesky bug that kept bothering her.
1700- Relieved by Pm watch crew.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Postmaster update:
In an effort to explain today’s events with so much that has happened, I’m going to have complete the report in several updates. There are many loads of photos and observations stil to come in.
Further details and photos to follow, stay tuned……
Posted on July 22, 2011 11:51 pm
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - 9:30AM Fledge watch update:
Bruce reports this morning from the Brampton courthouse fledge watch that baby Courtney has made her first real flight attempt despite the heat and humidity and while unsuccessful of any great feats of flight and only about 30 feet or so from where she had been, she has managed to stay off the ground this time and has made it to yet another ledge on the south east side of the Brampton courthouse.
While the heat and humidity is not as debilitating as yesterday, (it’s only 34 degrees Celsius with a Humid X feeling like 38 degrees) OR equivalent to 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, its still toooo hot!!!
We’re told that we should have some cloudy periods today that should prevent the sun from heating up the concrete and road tar from bubbling up again today. No more melted tires!!
Stay tuned………..
Posted on July 22, 2011 12:19 pm
July 21, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011 - PM fledge watch report
After this mornings brief activity, the rest of the day played out as you might have expected with the extreme heat and humidity (almost 50 degrees Celsius with the humid X). For theos that are still unfamiliar with the Celsius temperature scale, this equates to almost 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade,, and there was very little shade!
While the constant west breezes prevailed throughout most of the day and early evening, we all know now what it would be like being in a convection oven set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours! The day could be best described as brutal surrounded by all that hot concrete radiating all of the heat back at us!!!
Both resident adults were absent from our view most of the day, hiding out from the blistering sun in shady out of the direct sunlight places around the courthouse and Baby Courtney was for the most parts very in-active as well, with very little movement on the same ledge that she has been on for the last two days since she was rescued from the ground. She did play some “hide & seek” trying to avoid the odd watchers from behind the windows of her ledge until the great folks at this level closed their blinds to avoid scaring her. The court folks have been great!!
The parents did in fact feed her in the early morning, and brought in a small food offering later in the day. Around 5:30 pm, both parents did show up and spend several hours on the upper ledge just across from Courtney, with Truss, (the resident adult female) calling to Courtney in an effort to motivate her to fly over to “their ledge” to the left of the courthouse mail entrances.
Courtney did a little ledge running and some flapping during this early evening period, (and lots of screaming at the her parents in typical juvenile fashion), but for the most parts, she spent most of the day lounging around the ledge, laying down spread eagle, wings flat out and legs stretched out on the ledge in an effort to cool herself down.
By 9:30 PM, both adults had flown off out of our view, and Baby Courtney had once again laid down on the rear back portion of the nest ledge and out of our view for the night.
I’ve posted some great photo shots courtesy of Winston, one of the fledge watch crew that he was able to snap throughout the day and early evening. Both adults in flight, and Baby Courtney on the ledge. There is another shot of Baby Courtney on the ledge with showing a good view of her head, with the allot of white down feathers and fluff still very apparent. Talk about a Mohawk haircut 
By 10pm, we departed for the evening.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on July 22, 2011 11:31 am
July 21, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Thursday July 21st - 2011 - AM Fledge watch update:
Early this morning, Toivo reports that baby Courtney was doing allot more flapping and getting the wing exercise and muscle building that she needs to prepare her for her first flights, but sadly, this is not the day to do this with the heat alerts and debilitating humidity and heat.
We have already received many telephone calls and e-mail reports of Baby Courtney laying down flat on her belly with her wings stretched out looking very much like she is in serious distress.
While this is in part correct, she is not injured and this behaviour is quite normal. During the extreme heat and humidity, one of the only few ways for a non-flighted juvenile peregrine to cool itself down, is to lie flat down on it belly and scratch there wings out. The gravel and dirt substrate on the ledge actually helps cool down their body temperature, and with their wings spread out, this increases the cooling processes to help them bring down their core temperature.
While the adults have the option of flying off into a shady spot, and/or fly off to find pools of water on the various surrounding roof tops, the un-flighted juveniles don’t have this option, so they do the next best thing in an effort to cool themselves down.
On yet another note, we are asking that all occupants of the office suites that are directly behind Courtney’s position to close their blinds so that this human activity doesn’t further stress her out and further raise her body temperature. While she is an urban produced peregrine and will soon learn that people behind windows looking at her presents no threat or danger and she will eventually become at ease with this activity, she is still learning. Her stress is compounded with this extreme heat and humidity and the last thing that we would want to happen is to scare her off the ledge again given that she is not able to fly yet.
We are on site, and will be monitoring the situation closely.
It appears that we will all get a break from these temps later this evening and tomorrow.
Stay tuned………..
Posted on July 21, 2011 11:22 am
July 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday July 20th - 2011
Today’s watch for the most parts was very uneventful with little Courtney spending much of her time on the same ledge that she was released back to the night before. We believe that she didn’t actually “fledge” from the nest ledge given that she is still a little too young and still really not able to fly as yet.
Her activity - (or lack there of) might confirm this, as she did very little flapping today and spent most of her day trying to hide out from the onlookers behind the windows that came to get a view of her from inside the building.
The heat and humidity would be best described as brutal today with absolutely no relief from the blazing sun. Both of the adults were very inactive today as well, as it was obvious that they too are having some challenges with the high humidity. Mom did feed Courtney today later in the day around 5pm.
It wasn’t until the usual “falcon follies” time - (after 8pm) when all of the activity usually starts,, around 8:30 pm, Truss - (the resident adult female) went after a low flying pigeon driving it to the ground, and proceeded to catch it literally “on the ground” at the south end of the courthouse grounds close to the south wall. Truss struggled to get altitude while carrying the huge pigeon (still very much alive) while in her clutches. She flew only several feet above the ground around the east side of the courthouse directly in front of our position to the north over the Swiss Chalet and had to circle around back around the courthouse building in an effort to gain altitude.
It happened so fast, and so spectacular, (and so close), none of us grabbed our cameras as we were jockeying for position just to see the event! Finally, Winston was able to think quickly as Truss landed on the east courthouse ledge and was able to snap a quick photo despite the poor lighting conditions.
At one point, it looked like Truss was not going to make it with he heavy package, but refused to let it go!! At another point, we thought that she was going to be hit by cars as she was so low over the busy roadway to the north of the courthouse. She finally hooked around the courthouse building again, finally gaining some altitude and was able to make it to one of the lower courthouse ledges on the east elevation.
As she landed, the pigeon was flapping frantically while still her clutches, and Truss held it firm while she herself panted and gasped for air after this long flight to reach the ledge. Despite the fact that peregrines have an incredible ability to process air in their lungs, this high humidity causes everyone challenges,, including the peregrines!
After several minutes of trying to catch her breath, Truss finally put the pigeon out of its misery and proceeded to pluck and prepare it. While she did take a few mouthfuls of the pigeon for herself, she did not eat it, AND did not bring any of it to Courtney!!
Baby Courtney watched the entire event and happening from her elevated position on the courthouse ledge, but made no attempt to call out or vocalize to mom, which is very odd indeed!
After the pigeon was plucked and prepared, Truss flew off - without the pigeon-,, and landed on the upper courthouse roof directly above Courtney and roosted for about ten minutes or so. Truss then flew off to the south east upper courthouse roof (still in direct eye sight of the Courtney) and stayed there until darkness fell. For the most parts, baby Courtney remained very in-active and throughout the entire day, and by 9:30pm she had disappeared from our view, moving back further onto the ledge and settled in for the night.
Satisfied that everyone was settled down for the evening, we closed the fledge watch down for the evening and departed around 10:30pm.
It is also worth noting that Milton was not seen for the most parts throughout the day.
Also, I have added some of the photos that were taken yesterday during the physical examination of Courtney before she was released back to the ledge. It is very important that a physical examination be done to ensure that Courtney had not sustained any brakes or fractures before she is released back to the upper ledges. She checked out just fine, with allot of “attitude”and very feisty! Just what we wanted so see!!
Posted on July 21, 2011 9:58 am
July 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday July 20th - AM fledge watch report:
I received an update this morning from Toivo from the Brampton fledge watch that Courtney is doing well and still on the upper court house ledge where she was released last night. Truss, (the resident female parent), was roosting one ledge level above Courtney - (eating) and was in attendance and watching closely over her. Despite Courtney’s screaming at Truss to convince mom to give her food, (and mom did not give in), Courtney is doing just fine.
Remember that the adults are starting to wean Courtney to both help her loose some of her excessive weight and the baby fat, and also ti encourage her to start taking her first flights.
There is much to teach her before the young peregrines get the urge to migrate in September. She like most all peregrine juveniles, will migrate south in the early fall, and will be on their own without their parents guidance or protection.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on July 20, 2011 2:50 pm
July 19, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Tuesday July 19th - PM Report
Quite a day indeed! The Brampton Court fledge watch has begun!! We still stayed on track despite baby Courtney plans and were able to meet with fledge watch crew to go over the rules of engagement and protocols that we operate under while involved in fledge watch activities, and courthouse protocols while conducting these activities in/on and around the property.
After the meeting with lasted aprox. two hours, we all attended the courthouse and met with security and did one further physical examination of baby Courtney to ensure that thee were no further health issues before putting her back to the nest ledge and her parents. The extreme heat and humidify had both the resident adult parents inactive through most of the day, holding up out of sight in the shade to avoid the blazing hot sun. They too, do not do well in this type of extreme heat and humidity and do their best to hide out from the direct sun. Peregrine’s darker feather colouring absorb the suns heat and they can easily over heat especially with the extreme humidify.
Baby Courtney on the other hand, spent a very relaxing day in air conditioning in a stress free environment and was very relaxed. Her final examination went well, and she was again provided with water which she eagerly accepted. She was full of renewed energy, very alert and released back to the upper ledges and her awaiting parents as planned without incident.
Again, a huge thank you to court security, the Peel police and the management group for all of their understanding and support!! These folks are GREAT!!!
While we don’t expect baby Courtney to actually fledge over the next day or two given her young age, but we will be on site all day, every day on the fledge watch until baby Courtney has clearly demonstrated that she can hold her altitude and no longer needs rescuing, and can stay out of trouble from the ground.
For theos that are new to the fledge watch procedures and what is happening, young fledgling peregrines most often end up on the ground during their first flights. They are uncoordinated, too heavy with baby fat, and have not yet developed the mussel mass and flight skills to hold their altitude, let alone get off the ground back into the air and th nest ledge to safety.
When the young fledgling peregrines come to ground, they are unable to get back into the air, and like a young human infant learning to walk for their first time, they are also too naive to understand the dangers that exist on the ground. In the fledgling peregrines case, they are easily predated by other avian and land based predators. Here in the city, there are additional dangers from automobiles, domestic cats and dogs, raccoons, skunks and of course the odd bad guys that are only too quick to scoop up the young peregrine for financial gains.
Some of the young fledglings are stay grounded until they loose some of the heavy baby fat, and further exercise their wings to develop the necessary wing mussels strength and coordination to be able to get aloft again. In the wild - (non-urban nest sites), many of these young grounded fledgling peregrines are in fact predated. Peregrines have a high mortality - upwards of 80% in the first year, with the higher percentage of their mortality at fledge time.
Air movement plays an important role with peregrines, especially the young fledglings. Being heavy bodied birds with smaller wings, peregrines utilize the air movements to gain their altitude, and despite the fact that they are one (if not the fastest animal on the planet), they are actually encumbered in straight and level flight in dead air.
One of the many reasons peregrines nest high up on cliffs (and most recently, on high-rise buildings here in our urban landscapes). Peregrines are the F-16 and F-18 jet fighters that need allot of air space, and lots of attitude. They are not lumbering huge broad winged bombers (or like large / broad winged hawks or owls that can easily gain altitude in dead air). The juvenile fledgling peregrine is further disadvantaged in that it is inexperienced, never flown before, too fat and heavy, and very uncoordinated, and is now on the ground.
The adult parents refuse to feed it and for good reasons! The ground is a very dangerous place, especially for a peregrine! The parents wile attentive and still very protective will attempt to coax the fledgling back to into the air with food, sometimes harass it, and even attack it in an effort to get it off the ground and airborne. Once the fledgling is back at a safe altitude, the adult parents will resume feeding and tending to the fledgling.
We are there to assist and help get the grounded fledgling off the ground sooner than later, as the urban environment holds additional dangers.
Pictures to follow.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on July 20, 2011 2:33 pm
July 19, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Tuesday July 19th-2011 - AM fledge watch report:
The morning started out not much different than any other morning during this time of year when our phones are lit up with calls of young fledgling falcons been pushed or blown of their nest ledges, or jumping off the ledges to take their first flights, ending up on the ground. Most of which we are successful in safely retrieving them from the ground and getting them back to their parents and the nest ledges with out serious injuries.
This morning was no different, as the telephone calls started just after 8am, with a serious of calls from Brampton regarding the young hatchling from the Brampton courthouse. A huge thank you to the Brampton court security, the facilities management group and the most recent member of the CPF fledge watch team member that was in the right place at the right time!
At some point from the first light of the day, baby Courtney ended up on the ground and was spotted by court security laying down under a tree on the court property. Toivo, a new CPF fledge watch team member happened to stop in on his way to work and investigated the excitement at ground level. Baby Courtney was successfully rescued and retrieved from the ground, boxed and brought back into the facilities management office for safe keeping until I arrived to further examine her for any injuries that she might have sustained.
After a much closer and detailed physical examination later in the morning, Courtney was cleared to be released back to the nest ledge and her parents. It is also worth noting, that she still has a significant amount of baby down, and we don’t believe that she has actually “fledged” on her own. We suspect that she had actually been blown or stumbled and fallen from the nest ledge.
She is still not fully flighted at this stage but was able to break her fall and flutter to the ground. Thank goodness she is a bird, and has many of her juvenile flight feathers that are almost in allowed her to softly come to the ground,, and equally as important,, the fact that she didn’t venture out on the Huronontario road way before Toivo get there and able to round her up, preventing her from walking our on to the street,,, as this would have had disastrous deadly results given the huge amount of morning rush hour traffic!
A huge thanks to Toivo, Melanie and Terry who came to her rescue!!!
Baby Courtney will be returned to the nest ledge and her parents later this evening once it is safe to do so. For the day, she was enjoying some delightful air-conditioned accommodation and a much needed break from the oppressive heat and humidity that is especially hard on this young juveniles at this age.
Toivo reports:
Tuesday , July 19th- 2011
I went down early and watched Truss carry a small kill to the ledge, she left after a minute and consumed it herself. Then I saw building security come around and looking in the pines under the ledge.
Terry from security and I found baby Courtney on the ground towards the north end, and far too close to the road..
He had to get back to his duties. So over next hour I gently herded her south and around the building out onto a lawn and into a corner. Now what. My gloves were in the car, with a blanket.
I was making calls when some staff led by Melanie showed up with a box.
One quick move , a box over Courtney, a moment for her to calm down in the dark, then we worked the top under the bottom.
Courtney seemed Ok , walked with a very slight limp, flapped well but not nearly strongly enough for flight, and made no calls of distress or pain.
All this close to the building and very much out of site of Truss and Milton. So at least I did not have to deal with being dive bombed!
She has been left with Melanie at the courthouse, awaiting the arrival of Marion Nash from the CPF that has been earlier dispatched by facilities management.
We are all praying she is fine and can be returned to the ledge and her parents.
Quite enough adventure for both Courtney and I.
Toivo Asikainen
Stay tuned…………. more to come.
Posted on July 20, 2011 1:20 pm
